Ex-Turnpike Head Denies Charges

The former head of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, Matt Amorello, is defending himself against ethics violations.

WBUR's Meghna Chakrabarti reports.

CHAKRABARTI: Matt Amorello faces a conflict of interest charge for allegedly re-shaping a Mass-Pike policy of buying back unused sick time from departing employees, a charge Amorello disputes.

AMORELLO: I did nothing in my time to enhance my position in anyway. You're eluding that if I did something I would have left with "x." I didn't leave with "x."

CHAKRABARTI: Under the policy, Amorello was entitled to $75,000 for more than 600 hours of unused sick leave.

The policy came under scrutiny about two weeks after the July 2006 ceiling collapse in a Big Dig connector tunnel.

The hearing may resume tomorrow. The ethics commission then deliberates. If found guilty, Amorello could be be fined up to $6,000.